Ireland player ratings v All Blacks
Ireland registered their first ever win over New Zealand in Dublin and just a second in their history with a 16-9 win over the All Blacks at the Aviva Stadium. Jacob Stockdale scored the only try of the match, with Ireland’s other points coming from the boot of Johnny Sexton. Nathaniel Cope was at the Aviva Stadium for RugbyPass and rated the performances of the Irish players.
15. Rob Kearney 7
Back after recovering from a shoulder injury which forced him to miss the Argentina game. New Zealand tried to test him early on with some aerial balls. Denied a 27th minute try when he lost control of the ball. Made a good break early in the second half, selling a dummy, replaced by Larmour in the 66th minute.
14. Keith Earls 7
Tested positionally by Damian McKenzie early on. Two carries for 28 metres, including showing some fleet of foot in the 8th minute. He was unlucky not to get on the end of something after a Rory Best’s hit on Retallick in the 51st minute and Garry Ringrose’s chip ahead.
13. Garry Ringrose 8
With Robbie Henshaw out for the rest of the November series, Ringrose returned into the centre. He and Aki formed a solid partnership. Ringrose forced a turnover too and a lively presence when he did get the ball in hand.
12. Bundee Aki 8
After Ian Foster’s dig pre-match, Aki would have been keen for a big performance and he delivered. Made plenty of carries and he and Garry Ringrose dealt with most of what they faced defensively.
11. Jacob Stockdale 8
Was given an early tester with a high ball and spilled it. Then elected to run after trying to tidy up from a New Zealand breakaway in the 16th minute, when he should have sought touch – a penalty was subsequently conceded to make it 3-3 shortly after the quarter hour. A 44th minute chip over Kieran Read was charged down and the Ulster player was lucky that the All Black captain fumbled as a certain try was on. But what sets him apart is that Stockdale doesn’t let blemishes drag him down – four minutes later his chip kick worked to better effect, gathering and sliding in for a try holding off Aaron Smith and Damian McKenzie. It was his 12th try in 14 international appearances, hard to argue with those numbers.
10. Johnny Sexton 8
Up against another contender for the 2018 World Rugby Player of the Year in Beauden Barrett. Landed three from three in the first half and the conversion in the second. Better day kicking out of hand compared to Argentina, was unfortunate that one of his chips over the top was spilled by Kearney in the first half. Part of the double hit on Ben Smith with Stockdale in the 74th minute to drive him into touch deep in the All Blacks 22, as Ireland tried to pen their opponents back.
9. Kieran Marmion 7
With Conor Murray ruled out, Marmion remains the preferred choice as an alternative. His box kicking is an area that needs work, often failing to relieve pressure. Replaced by Luke McGrath in the 59th minute.
1. Cian Healy 7
Managed to get his hands on the ball a bit more. Part of a strong scrummaging effort, which dominated in the first half. Came off in the 51st minute blowing, he’d put in a big shift.
2. Rory Best 8
Some loose passing from the Ireland hooker, three of them in the first half, but managed to get away with each of them. A shaky lineout against Argentina was rectified, all seven of his first half throws comfortably finding their men. A big hit on Brodie Retallick in the 51st minute almost led to a breakaway try for Ireland. The lineout regressed when he was off the pitch.
3. Tadhg Furlong 8
The Irish scrum was dominant in the first half, shunting the All Blacks back. Furlong also got through his fair share of work too in the loose, making good gains with ball in hand.
4. Devin Toner 9
With England’s lineout dismantled by the Brodie Retallick show, Toner was always going to come back in after the Argentina game, a match which Ireland also struggled in that area. Lineout was solid when he was calling the shots. But out in the loose Toner certainly made his presence felt, he had big combination hit on Retallick alongside James Ryan in the 14th minute. One of his best performances in an Ireland shirt.
5. James Ryan 10
A huge presence, making multiple carries. Part of that double hit on Retallick in the first half to help set the tone that Ireland were not going to be bullied. Ireland’s top tackler with 19. Frighteningly talented.
6. Peter O’Mahony 10
The Munsterman had a tigerish display. A couple of big carries, but it was his work at the breakdown that was exceptional. Provided a crucial turnover in the 47th minute just outside the Irish 22 as the All Blacks appeared to be getting a head of steam. He got back brilliantly in the 61st minute to pluck out TJ Perenara’s chip ahead deep into the Irish 22. It was followed two minutes later by another big turnover, helped by Best, in the Irish 22. It was his last contribution of a fine performance.
Continue reading below…
Watch: Codie Taylor ‘can’t take anything away from Ireland’ following All Blacks defeat
7. Josh van der Flier 8
Very energetic at the breakdown, stopped a breakaway in the 35th minute when the ball went loose, forcing a knock on. 16 tackles, a fine shift after his late call-up on Friday for the injured Dan Leavy.
8. CJ Stander 8
After three minutes of New Zealand pressure in Ireland’s 22, he secured a big turnover in the 5th minute with Josh van der Flier alongside him. Another big one in 71st minute. He was a robust presence.
16. Sean Cronin 5
Came on in the 65th minute for Rory Best. The Irish lineout regressed after that, with two going awry to Murphy and Henderson. May come under increased pressure from Niall Scannell to be the reserve for Best.
17. Jack McGrath 7
After Healy had emptied the tank McGrath had half an hour to keep the momentum going, did so with a solid, if not spectacular, outing.
18. Andrew Porter 6
Came on in the 65th minute for Furlong, didn’t have a telling impact on the game.
19. Iain Henderson 7
Came on for Toner and had an impressive 18 minutes himself, notching up 7 tackles in that time. Highlights included a lineout steal in the 66th minute and he did well to slow the ball down in the 73rd minute in the New Zealand 22 to keep the pressure on.
20. Jordi Murphy 7
Came on for man-of-the-match O’Mahony, hard to replicate the performance of the Munsterman but made a few carries and chipped in with 8 tackles.
21. Luke McGrath 7
Came on in the 59th minute and his box kicking was an improvement on Marmion’s. His choice to do so with two minutes to go, gifting New Zealand back possession, may have come back to haunt him, thankfully for the Leinster man it didn’t.
22. Joey Carbery n/a
Came on in the 77th minute for Sexton, made his necessary tackles.
23. Jordan Larmour 6
Came on for Kearney with a quarter of an hour to go. Dealt with a high ball near the halfway, didn’t make any errors. He did he get a chance to run with the ball.
Watch: All Blacks wing Ben Smith following Ireland’s win
Comments on RugbyPass
Ben Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
19 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
7 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
19 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
9 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
9 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
28 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
19 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
28 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
19 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
86 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
4 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
9 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
19 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
14 Go to comments